William shempp



(No Model.)

W. SHBMPP.

LETTER BOX. 110.454,298. Patented June 16,1891.

BYM

Unirse STATES PATENT QFFICE.

YIIJIJIAM SHEMPP, OF IVILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,298, dated June 16, 1891.

Application filed August 9, 1890. Serial No. 361,590. (No model.)

T0 all whom, it may concern: l Be it known that I, WILLIAM SHEMPP, of Williamsport, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Combined Iletter Receiver' and Door-Plate, of which the following is a specification.

`My invention is an improvement in combined door-plates and letter-1eceivers; and the invention consists in certain novelV constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure lis a front view of a part of a door provided with my improvements. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively rear and sectional views thereof, and Figs. i and 5 represent parts in detail.

In the door A is formed an opening B, in which is fitted a frame-like box C, having internally at its outer end a bead-like iange D at its ripper and lower sides to form a stop for the name-plate holder E, which normally closes the outer end ot the opening B. This naine-plate holder E is preferably an open frame adapted to receive the name-plate F, which may be of metal, Wood, or other suitable material suitably inscribed. The nameplate F tits in this frame and is held by the securing-plate G, which slides in guides g in the frame E and holds the plate F to its place when the holder is in use, but which can be readily withdrawn When the holder is removed to permit the plate F to be changed, as may be desired. At its opposite ends the frame E is provided near one edge with trnnnions Il I, the former II itting in a bearing 7L 1n frame C, and the latter I in the bearing at the base oi' a groove in said frame C, so that the holder E may be conveniently removed from and replaced in the frame C.

To hold the frame E in position in the outer end of the opening B, I provide a springholder, which serves the double purpose of retaining the frame E and its trunnions properly in their bearings, and also of actuating the said frame or holder E in such manner as to give the holder an outward tension at its lower free edge.

In Fig. 2 the spring-holder is a spring-rod J, secured between its ends at j, and having one arm J extended and bearing atj against Atj the spring-rod .I is secured by a staple K, one arm .'y of which is shorter than the other, so that by partially withdrawing such staple the rod J may be conveniently withdrawn when it is desired to remove the nameplate holder. This rod J, it willbe seen, serves to give tension to the naine-plate holder, and also as a means for securing the holder E in its bea-rings.

Now, instead of arranging the spring-holder .I as shown in Figs. 2 and 23 and as before described it might be arranged as shown in Fig. 5, in which the wire is coiled at I around the trunnion I, and has one arm 2 arranged to aetuate the holder E to hold it normally closed and its other arm 3 arranged to engage a pin l, so it may hold the frame E in its bearings.

Manifestly, instead of the name-plate being in a single piece inscribed as shown, it might be formed of several independent letters prop erly arranged to form the desired name and number.

It will be understood from the foregoing that the name-plate holder may be conveniently removed and changed, as may be desired.

The bag L is arranged with its mouth over the inner end of the opening B, one side of the mouth of such bag being secured below the opening D and the other or upper side arranged above such opening. The said upper side or wall is made extensible or capable of being expanded or opened by means oi' a spring I, of rubber or other suitable matcrial, which serves to hold the mout-h of the bag normally closed, but maybe expanded to permit the insertion ot the hand to remove the mail deposited in the bag. It will be noticed that the spring Z is secured at its ends at the ends of the opening B in suoli manner as to lie taut across above the inner end ot' the opening B, but maybe expanded to open the mouth of the bag, as will be understood from the foregoing description.

The spring Z, being made ot rubber, can be easily stretched to permit its middle por- IOO tion to be drawn out from the door, thus opening the mouth of the bag for the insertion of the hand. The bag is preferably a net-Work bag, as shown.

It is obvious that the box or frame C, in-

stead of being a separate part from the door,

as shown, may be formed of or by the door, as will be understood.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new isl. The combination, substantially as described, of the boX or frame C, the name-plate holder pivoted in bearings in said box or frame C, and the spring-holder having portions arranged to actuate said naineplate holder and to secure the said naine-plate holder in its bearings, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, substantially as described, of the box or frame C, having a notch or seat 7L and groove 2, the name-plate holder having trunnion H, fitted in seat 7L, and trunnion I, fitted in groove i, and the spring-holder J, formed of a rod secured between its ends at jto the frame C and having one arm or portion arranged to actuate the naine-plate holder and its other arm or portion arranged to secure the trunnion Iin its seatin the base of groove c', all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a combined letter-receiver and doorplate, the naine-plate herein described, conr sisting of the open frame E, having at its ends trunnions and provided tvith guides g, the

4. The combination, substantially as herein described, of the door having a letter-opening and the letter-receiving bag having one side of its mouth secured below said letter-opening and the other or upper side of its mouth above and secured at the ends of such opening, the said upper side of the mouth being provided with a spring whereby it is held normally closed and may be expanded for the insertion of the hand, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In an apparatus substantially as described, the combination of the box-frame C, having bearing h and groove t' and provided With a iiange D, the holder-t`ra1ne E, having guides g and trunnions II I, fitted to bearing 7L and groove t', the name-plate iitted in frame E, the securing-plate G, fitted in guides g, and the spring-holder having portions arranged to actuate the naine'plate holder and to secure the saine in its bearings, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

The above specification of my invention signed by mein the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM SHEMPP.

Witnesses:

P. B. TURPIN, SoLoN C. KEMON. 

